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Questions and Answers
What was the primary source of law according to the old view held by the monarchy?
Which estate had an outstanding role as the First Estate in the social order?
What privilege did the Second Estate, or nobility, enjoy?
How was life in French society significantly influenced by the Catholic Church?
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What percentage of the French population did the Third Estate comprise?
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What characterized the social order that ultimately led to its challenge and eventual revolution?
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In what manner did the Third Estate contribute to the monarchy's revenue?
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What was a long-term cause that challenged the stability of the old social order in France?
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What was the primary reason for the growth of cities in France during the 18th century?
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Which social class began to question the estate order in France?
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Which factor contributed most to the impoverishment of small farmers and wage earners?
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What was a significant outcome of the spread of Enlightenment ideas in France?
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What was a result of rising bread prices leading to food riots?
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What process allowed knowledge to become accessible to a broader audience in France?
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What was the significance of the critical Öffentlichkeit that developed in urban areas?
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What did the inability of the royal central government to handle crises before the Revolution indicate?
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What significant action did the representatives of the Third Estate take on June 17, 1789?
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Which event marked the beginning of significant unrest in Paris in July 1789?
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What was the main impact of Abbé Emmanuel Joseph Sieyès' work 'What is the Third Estate?'
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What phenomenon led to the widespread fear known as 'Grande Peur' in the countryside?
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What was the primary outcome of the uprisings in cities during the summer of 1789?
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What did the Third Estate pledge during their solemn oath in the Ballhaus de Versailles?
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What role did citizen militias play in Paris following the uprising?
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How did Ludwig XVI respond to the events of the summer of 1789?
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What percentage of the total population did the clergy represent?
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What group had the privilege of exempting themselves from military service?
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Which segment of the Third Estate constituted the largest group?
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What is a key demand expressed by the Third Estate?
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What term describes the nobility's separation from the common law?
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How were the political rights of the nobility characterized?
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Which group within the Third Estate had restrictions on trade and industry?
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What framework defines a nation according to the content?
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What is the primary reason for the alienation of the nation as stated in the content?
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Which statement best defines the Third Estate?
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What is the relationship between national will and legality?
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According to the content, what is the source of all legality?
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What does the pamphlet 'What is the Third Estate?' primarily address?
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The content describes the significance of which two historical events?
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Which of the following was NOT a task assigned regarding the causes of the revolution?
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What aspect of society does the content suggest was a source of tension before the revolution?
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Study Notes
The Old Regime: A Society Divided
- The Old Regime was a deeply entrenched social structure based on divine right and a three-estate system.
- The First Estate, the clergy, enjoyed significant social and political influence, with a state-supporting role.
- The Catholic Church had a strong presence, owning vast landholdings, levying its own taxes, and shaping the lives of French citizens across all social strata.
- The Second Estate, consisting of the nobility, held positions of power in government, administration, and the military, enjoying tax exemption, feudal rights, and a range of privileges.
- The Third Estate, encompassing 98% of the population, was burdened with taxes, subject to feudal levies, and largely excluded from political participation.
Long-Term Causes of the Revolution
- 18th-century France underwent significant demographic changes, with rapid population growth and urbanization.
- The rising influence of the educated bourgeoisie, coupled with the growing poverty among urban dwellers and rural workers, led to socioeconomic tensions.
- The Enlightenment's ideas, disseminated through books, newspapers, and intellectual societies, fueled critical thinking and challenged the existing social order.
- The American Revolution, a successful struggle for independence, provided inspiration for a revolution against tyranny.
Short-Term Causes of the Revolution
- The French monarchy faced a profound state crisis due to mounting debts and financial mismanagement.
- In 1788, King Louis XVI called for the Estates-General to address the financial crisis, but the meeting was marred by disagreements between the three estates over voting procedures.
- The representatives of the Third Estate, led by figures like Abbé Sieyès, proclaimed themselves the National Assembly on June 17, 1789, and took the Oath of the Tennis Court on June 20th.
- These actions defied the king's authority and marked a turning point toward revolution.
The Revolution in the Cities & Countryside
- The summer of 1789 witnessed uprisings and violent unrest in both urban and rural areas.
- The storming of the Bastille on July 14, 1789, symbolized citizen defiance against the monarchy and led to the formation of the National Guard.
- In the countryside, widespread fear, crop failures, and peasant revolts against feudal lords contributed to the collapse of the old order.
- The rapid succession of events left King Louis XVI powerless.
The French Estate System: A Deeper Look
- The clergy, comprising approximately 130,000 people, held significant privileges, including tax exemption, their own jurisdiction, and the right to levy the tithe.
- The nobility consisted of roughly 300,000 to 400,000 individuals, benefiting from tax exemption, feudal rights and privileges, and a dominant position in society.
- The Third Estate, encompassing a vast majority of the population, faced restrictions on trade and industry while lacking rights and privileges, representing the overwhelming majority of the French population.
Examining a Pamphlet: "What is the Third Estate?"
- The pamphlet argued that the Third Estate encompassed everything important to the nation, while the nobility represented a separate entity within the nation, detached from the common good.
- It stressed the sovereignty of the nation and the right to a government based on popular will.
- The ideas presented in the pamphlet, highlighting the inequality and injustice of the existing order, can be considered a call for revolution.
Analyzing a Cartoon: "Taille, Impôts et Corvée"
- The cartoon depicts the suffering of the French people under the weight of taxes, forced labor, and feudal dues.
- It serves as a visual representation of the Third Estate's burden under the Old Regime.
Key Events & Significance
- The Oath of the Tennis Court represented a decisive act of defiance against the king and a bold declaration of the National Assembly's authority.
- The storming of the Bastille was a pivotal moment, signifying a violent uprising against the monarchy, and ultimately leading to its downfall.
Causes of the French Revolution
- The combination of long-term societal tensions, short-term crises, and Enlightenment ideology contributed to the outbreak of the French Revolution.
- The growing dissatisfaction with the inequities of the Old Regime and the desire for political and social change provided fertile ground for revolutionary fervor.
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Description
Explore the complex social hierarchy of 18th-century France with this quiz on the Old Regime. Discover the roles and privileges of the First and Second Estates versus the challenges faced by the Third Estate. Test your knowledge on the long-term causes leading up to the French Revolution.
